Multiple switch, multiple bulb electric lantern



July 20, 1943. w. M. MOXLEY MULTIPLE SWITCH, MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRICLANTERNS Filed April 7 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l x INVENTOR. MAL/AM M.MOXLEY,

July 20, 1943. w. M. MOXLEY 2,324,715

MULTIPLE SWITCH, MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRIC LANTERNS Filed April 7, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM M MCXLEY,

Patented July 20, 1943 MULTIPLE SWITCH, MULTIPLE BULB ELECTRIC LANTERNWilliam M. Moxley, Kansas City, Mo.

Application April 7, 1942, Serial No. 438,019

5 Claims.

This invention relates to multiple switch, multiple bulb, electric handlanterns.

Electric hand lanterns are rapidly supplanting the old style handlanterns for use among trainnicn. Any lantern used for railroadsignalling purposes must be very reliable and certain of operation. Tothis end multiple bulbs are employed, in the present case, three.

Further, since these lanterns must be used under adverse weatherconditions, as in snow storms, high winds and the like, it is desirableto have the control switches not only of easy access but of such anature as not to require visual inspection in order to properlymanipulate them.

Therefore, the present invention contemplates the provision of twoswitches for controlling one or more bulbs, these switches being in suchrelation to the bail or handle of the lantern as to be readilymanipulated by the thumb even though the thumb be gloved and theseswitches being so arranged that the movement of either of them willeffect a change in the condition of the circuit. That is to say, if thelights are off, the movement of either switch will turn them on, whileif they are on the movement of either switch will turn them ofi.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedetailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view of a lantern embodying one form ofthe invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking upward;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view upon line 3-3 of Fig. 1, lookingdownward;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking downward;

5 is a fragmentary side view of the lantern showing the bail and one ofits associated switches;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the lower part of alantern illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view upon line '!-'l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view upon line 8-3 of Fig. 6.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a lantern body adapted to becarried and swung by a rigid bail 6. A battery 1 furnishes the source ofenergy for light bulbs 8. A skeleton base 9 supports the lantern bottom2E This bottom in conjunction with the body 5 and cover ll constitutethe enclosure for the battery. The parts so far described are all ofconventional form and lanterns of this type commonly include pressuremeans for holding the battery against the lamp contacts at the bottom ofthe lantern. I contemplate the use of any of these well known pressureexerting means. One terminal l2 of the battery makes contact with awasher l3 while the other terminal M of the battery makes contact with aring l5. The ring i5 is held by rivets It to a plate ll of insulatingmaterial. The washer i3 is connected by a rivet it with a metalliccontact disc l9. When the bulbs 8 are screwed into their sockets 25 theymake contact with the disc l9 and are lighted. In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 control of the individual bulbs is effectedby the act of screwing them inwardly or outwardly in their sockets andto hold these bulbs in the position to which they are moved, frictionsprings 2| bear between the bulbs and the under side of the lanternbottom iii. If all three bulbs are screwed inwardly all three will belighted, while if only two are screwed inwardly and one is only partlyscrewed into the socket then two bulbs will be lighted when the circuitis closed and the remaining bulb will serve as a spare. Either of thetwo lighted bulbs could burn out and still the lantern would show alight. Space for the contact disc I8 is provided by filling pieces 22.Rivets 23 pass through and tie together plate ll, filling pieces 22 anda plate 26 of insulating material. The electric circuit from themanually operable control switches is the same in both forms of theinvention, the only difierence being that in the form illustrated inFig. 1 these switches energize or ale-energize contact disc l9 while inthe form illustrated in Fig. 6 these switches energize or de-energize asecondary switch element which may be shifted to control individualbulbs, as hereinafter set forth. The form of circuit employed may bebest understood by referring to Fig. 6. By manipulation of the fingerpieces 25, see Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the switch plates 28 and 33 may bemoved upwardly or downwardly. In Fig. 6 they are shown as having bothbeen moved downwardly, at which time a circuit is completed from contactring 15 (which corresponds to the contact ring :15 of Fig. 1) throughconductor 27, switch plate 25, contacts 28 and 29, wire 38, contacts 3|and 32, switch plate 33, contact 34, conductor 35 to ground at 36 on thelantern body. The return circuit to the battery in Fig. l, is completedthrough the lamp sockets 20, which are part of the lantern body, thelamps themselves, contact plate l9, rivet l8 and washer l3. In Fig. 6 awasher l3 corresponds to the washer l3 and is supported upon aninsulating plate II. This plate is tied by rivets 22? to an insulatingplate M A rivet l8 connects washer [3 and contact disc I 9 Up to thispoint the structures of Figs. 1 and 6 are substantially the same.However, instead of having the bulbs engage disc l9 by screwing theminto their sockets, I interpose a switch between l9 and the bulbs,through which either or both of these bulbs may be caused to light. Thisswitch consists of a slidable plate 31, the central portion of whichslidably engages the under side of the disc l9 and embraces an operatinglever 38, the outer end 39 of said operating lever being accessible fromthe exterior of the lantern and the inner end of said lever beingpivoted to plate 24*. With the lever in its central position the ends ofthe slidable plate 31 engage both of the contact studs 39', said studsbeing mounted in the insulating plate 24 in such position as to beengaged by the center contacts of the lamps when they are screwed intotheir sockets. It is clear that when this is done a circuit will becompleted through l2, l8 19 31, 39, the lamp bulbs, the lamp sockets 20to ground on the lantern body and back through the manually operableswitches adjacent the bail, as hereinbefore described. By moving lever38 to move the sliding plate 3! endwise so that it will engage only oneof the studs 39, only the corresponding bulb will be lighted and eitherof the two bulbs may be lighted according to the position occupied bythe sliding plat 31. A third socket 2E! may carry a spare bulb 8 Withboth of the vertically movable switch plates 26 and 33 at their lowerlimits of movement a circuit is completed as described and with both ofthese switch plates 26 and 33 at their upper limits of movement acircuit is completed and the lights will be lighted. This latter circuitis completed through wire 30 contacts 39 and contacts 30. Thus, bothswitches must occupy the same relative positions if current is to flow.If either switch is in a position opposite to its companion the circuitis broken. Consequently, the movement of either of these switches willchange the existing condition of the circuit. That is to say, if thelights are out, movement of either switch will turn them on and if thelights are lighted movement of either switch will turn them ofi. Byutilizing this arrangement in connection with the switches, the thumbpieces of which are disposed adjacent the bail or handle, it followsthat the user can control the light without visually inspecting theswitches, without removing his gloves and without reversing the positionof the bail in his hand. I am aware of the fact that 3-way switches arein common use in house lighting systems to control cellar and halllights. However, as far as I am aware, I am the first to provide alantern for the use of railroad trainmen in which this novelrelationship of bail, switches and multiple bulbs is provided. While theparticular arrangement shown and described is well adapted to serve thepurposes for which it is intended, I wish it to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but thatit includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come withineither the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination with a lantern body, a supportingbail for the same, a pair of switches, one upon each side of the lanternbody, adjacent the bail, each of said switches comprising movablemembers having thumb pieces positioned to be engaged by the thumb of ahand grasping the bail, v

a group of contacts controlled by said switches and a circuit in whichsaid contacts are included, said contacts being so disposed that thecircuit is completed when said switches occupy similar positions ineither direction and is broken when said switches occupy dissimilarpositions in either direction, and a lamp socket included in saidcircuit and carried by the lantern body.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with alantern body, a supporting bail for the same, a pair of switches, oneupon each side of the lantern body, adjacent the bail, each of saidswitches comprising movable members having thumb pieces positioned to beengaged by the thumb of a hand grasping the bail, a group of contactscontrolled by said switches and a circuit in which said contacts areincluded, said contacts being so disposed that the circuit is completedwhen said switches occupy similar positions in either direction and isbroken when said switches occupy dissimilar positions in eitherdrection, and a group of sockets being included in said circuit andcarried by the lantern body, said circuit being common to all of saidsockets.

3. In an electric lantern, a containing body and battery therein, saidbattery carrying a pair of contacts at its under face, a centrallydisposed washer and a surrounding ring with which the battery contactsrespectively engage, an insu lating piece upon which the washers andring are mounted, a contact disc beneath the insulating piece havingelectrical cennection through said piece with said washer, a pluralityof lamp sockets carried by the lantern body in alignment with saidcontact disc, light bulbs adapted to be screwed into said sockets and tomake contact with said discs by the act of screwing them into theirsockets, a pair of manually operable switches, means for connecting oneof said switches to said ring, means for grounding the other of saidswitches to the lantern body, and circuits and contacts inter-connectingsaid switches positioned to close the circuit when both of said switchesoccupy the same positions in either direction and to break said circuitwhen said switches occupy dissimilar positions in either direction.

4. The combination with a container constituting a lantern body, abattery therein having a pair of contacts upon its lower end, a pair ofcontact members with which said contacts of the battery respectivelyengage, a pair of manually operable switches, a conductor for connectingone of said switches to a first one of said contact members, the otherof said switches being grounded upon the lantern body, a plurality ofbulb sockets carried by the lantern body, a slidable plate, a pair ofcontact members either or both of which may be engaged by said plate inthe sliding movement, a handle for sliding said plate, said handle beingaccessible from the exterior of the container, 2. contact disc withwhich said plate has sliding contact and which disc in turn is inelectrical connection with the second one of the said contact members.and circuit connections and contacts between the manually operableswitches so disposed that when said switches occupy like positions ineither direction the circuit is closed through said bulbs and when saidswitches occupy dissimilar positions in either direction the circuit isbroken.

5. The combination with a container constituting a lantern body, of abail extending over the top of said container and having its endsafiixed to the sides of the container at a point 10 materially below thetop thereof, a battery within th container, a lamp socket carried by thecontainer, a pair of switches, one secured to one side of the containeradjacent the bail and the other secured to the other side of thecontainer 15 adjacent the bail, said switches comprising slidablecircuit making and breaking members having thumb pieces lying inposition to be engaged by the thumb of a hand which is grasping the bailand circuits interconnecting both of said switches, the battery and thelamp socket, arranged to adapt the switches to complementally controlthe flow of current to th lamp socket and also so arranged as toenergize the lamp socket when both of the switches occupy the sameposition in either direction and to de-energize the socket when saidswitches occupy dissimilar positions in either direction.

WILLIAM M. MOXLEY.

